Well, we nearing the climax of this little story ever soon. The human minions finally make their appearance in this chapter. Plus, a certain character makes a brief cameo, although I will not reveal his identity yet. You'll have to wait till the next story.
For this chapter I strongly recommend listening to the theme of the Lower Brinstar from Super Metroid.
Other than that, Enjoy!
Crash is not mine. OC are mine
Chapter 11 Time is of the Essence
Crash entered the jungle from the warp room; only to be greeted by the cold darkness of the night.
He was still upset after what happened with ; and now Cortex was starting to get upset. The marsupial knew that they both were frustrated about the planetary alignment, and they both didn't know how to react anymore.
Aku Aku on the other hand, was starting to realize why he was having all those bad feelings in the back of his head.
He now was completely sure that Cortex was hiding something. Coco was right; some of the man's statements seemed completely sketchy. The floating mask was almost sure that Cortex didn't change his ways at all. That he was just using Crash to collect the crystals for him and his own selfish purposes. After all, if N. Gin was to collect the crystals from Crash, why would he need a large robot?
However, the one reason Aku couldn't voice his opinion. What proof did he have? The floating mask was worried that if told Crash what he thought about the situation, Crash would think that he was working with Brio as well. With all the hidden secrets and unknown; Crash needed him right now more than ever.
Aku watched the bandicoot follow a small firefly guiding their way through the dark jungle.
He looked sad; Crash honestly believed that Cortex was going to use the crystals with good intentions, he really believed that Cortex had really changed. Aku Aku now saw as the adventure got farther and farther, Crash had become more and more paranoid. He now believed everyone was out to get him. Aku couldn't help but wondered if Cortex wanted that to happen. Did Cortex want Crash to isolate himself from everyone that he knew? Crash was slowly drifting away from all of his friends that cared about him. Was this what Cortex wanted; for Crash to be alone when he discovered the horrible betrayal? But, what proof did he have? Until everything came out, there wasn't anything he could do.
Polar was barking and attempted to grab the firefly and eat it. But, luckily Crash grabbed him before he could.
"If you don't want to be lurking the darkness, I suggest you don't eat that." Crash scolded.
Polar whimpered a little; kicking the ground with his little paws.
Crash looked over the trail; as he noticed little robots floating in the distance.
Those little robots are blocking our way, and I don't think I can stop them all. But, I may be able to crawl on my belly, they seem to just be floating."
Crash and Polar got on their bellies and slowly crawled under the robots, being careful not to lose the firefly.
"I have to hurry. Time's running out." The bandicoot looked nerve wrecked.
Aku Aku wanted to voice his option. He wanted to let Crash know; there was something wrong.
"Crash… I…"
"What?"
The floating mask couldn't find the words. He didn't know what Crash's reaction would be; and right now Crash needed him.
"Oh, it's nothing… I'm just agitated too. Let's hurry and find the last of the crystals."
Crash continued in the darkness trying to find the crystal. All he could feel was anxiety. Why did Brio want to pull his sister and friends away from him? Why was this all happening; was there something else? He didn't know. It now seemed that Cortex was the only friend he had left; the father he never had.
Crash laughed, bitterly. "You think you know your friends, but I guess you don't."
"What did you say?" Aku Aku asked, gently.
"Nothing, it's nothing. I see a glowing light over there. It must be the crystal and the gems."
Crash ran to the light and saw the jewels glowing brightly in the faded moonlight.
"I can't believe were close." Crash sighed.
"Me neither." Aku said, feeling more unsettled then he wanted to be.
"I wonder where I'll stand with Coco and my friends after this."
"I don't know; but we'll see after all the crystals are collected."
Meanwhile, Jan was sitting at a table with her hands folded in her lap. She was at a big dinner where her mother and a team of scientist she was working with were giving a huge speech about some break through. Jan looked at the ground; her heart was pounding a mile a minute. She still didn't tell her mother about what happened to her computer, or about the video message that Cortex sent her. She wasn't exactly sure whose side she should be taking. The only thing she was sure about was looking into Crash's face and him: what was going on?
The waiter's brought out the main entrees, as the hundreds of people were prepared to eat as the scientists gave their speeches and lectures.
"But, Crash said he was better off without you." One side of her head replied, coldly.
"He knew it was the only way I would leave. He knew I had to." Jan fought back
"Maybe he only wanted you around in case something happened between him and Tawna. Don't you remember when she betrayed him? You were right there when it happened." The one part of her mind, snarled.
"He would never do that me!"
"How do you know if he's replaced; you and now only sees you as liability."
"Crash and I are just friends. Why would I have a relationship at this age? That and he isn't human."
"Feeling are mutual."
"You don't exist; all you are is my doubts. All the things I don't want to believe."
Suddenly her voice in her head changed.
"I exist! I am real!" The voice was now deep, rough and hollow sounding.
"Wait, I've heard you before; you were casting doubts into my head once before. Back when I was on the islands."
"You've only guessed that now?"
"Where are you?" Jan asked, amazed she was having a conversation with someone that was not even there.
"I've been contained."
"You probably deserved it." Jan bit back
"You won't be able to help to Crash. Crash will die; while all you can do is watch." The voice laughed, cruelly.
Jan tried to keep herself from shouting out loud to someone who obviously wasn't there.
"Farewell Jane. Perhaps if I escape my prison one day. you and I shall meet face to face." The voice was gone.
Jan looked around the room. She heard the voice once back on the islands, but that was a year ago. Why was she suddenly hearing it again?
Dr. Starling looked to see her daughter sweating.
"Jan, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Mother. It's just hot in here
"Darling, I want you to go to the restroom and wash your face with cold water."
Jan got up from her seat and walked to the restroom.
The restroom was on the other end of the building; forcing her to walk down the dark halls.
Rain poured from outside the windows giving the illusion that someone was taking a hose and washing the cold world away.
After about 10 minutes, she came to the restroom.
It was rather fancy room with mirrors for women to apply their make up.; and six doors that would lead to a toilet and sink. Jan walked into the first door. Turning on the sink, she splashed cold water onto her face.
Looking at her reflection. her emerald eyes seemed to glow in dimly lit room. She had the feeling that time was running out and if something was not done soon, it would be too late.
She walked back into the powder area; checking her red hair in the mirror.
She looked down at her hands.
"Maybe I'm just fighting the inevitable."
She looked into the mirror again. Only to find N. Gin right behind her.
Before the redhead had a chance to react, the cyborg hit her in the head with something heavy and hard.
Jan fell to the ground as her vision faded away.
Meanwhile, Crash and his companions were walking along a metal platform.
"Where are we?" Crash asked.
Suddenly Crash and Polar felt themselves lift of the ground.
"There's no gravity in here." Crash said.
Polar whimpered; wanting more than anything to be back on solid ground.
"How am I going to move around with no gravity to help me?" Crash thought to himself.
He noticed a jet pack and some goggles floating in front of him as he grinned.
"I think I've found my solution."
Crash carefully swam to the jetpack; strapping himself in with the jet pack on his back and the goggles fastened over his eyes.
Aku used his magic to carry the baby polar in the air.
Thanks to the jetpack, Crash now had better control in the air and went through the first door. The room was filled with scorching hot pipes, complicated looking machines and dangerous looking electrical wires.
Crash maneuvered through the air carefully passing the tight spot between 2 scorching pipes.
The bandicoot managed to relax a little as he floated in the air; being able to fly seemed soothing and the world seemed transparent.
Crash flew past some more pipes and wires when he came across a young man wearing a jet pack and holding what looked like a cattle prod.
"Why are you here?" The assistant demanded, coldly.
"I'm only looking for crystals for Dr. Cortex, I bring no harm. May I please pass?" Crash asked, softly.
"I have orders to kill any intruders. No matter what their purpose is."
"You don't understand, I need to get past. The life of everyone on Earth depends of me."
The assistant charged up the cattle prod.
"If you do desire to pass, then you'll have to get past me."
The young man charged with the prod in hand. Crash slid to the left avoiding the prod. The bandicoot felt his heart pounding. The assistant grinned madly as he flipped in the air coming toward Crash. Crash slid below him and flew down the electrical corridors only to find the young man chasing him.
"You won't get far. I know these tunnels better than the others." The young man's voice seemed to echo.
Crash didn't respond; he just focused on finding his way to the end of the electrical tunnels.
Off in the distance, Crash saw a metal path ahead that would take him to wherever he needed to go next.
Crash flew as fast as he could when he felt the assistant underneath; forcing himto do a back flip.
The assistant now was in front of the end of the tunnel.
"You cannot outrun me; give yourself up." He whispered, darkly.
Crash breathed deeply before closing his eyes and punching the assistant as hard as he could in the face.
The assistant fell to the bottom giving Crash enough time to fly to the metal path and remove his equipment. He immediately started running down the path; not daring to look back.
The assistant regained composure as blood streamed from his nose.
He picked up his communication device and spoke.
"Attention enforcements in point 274: An intruder is heading your way, get ready."
The young man flew down a tunnel that was secretly hidden on the right in search for Crash
Well now it Seems Aku Aku is finally starting to pick up on the unknown. And Crash has almost collected all the crystals. What will happen next? Read and Review..
